WSSD Seminar Paper by 2KR Monitoring Network
Problems of "International Cooperation":
A Case of Japanese Aid

1. Obsolete Pesticides Stockpiles Donated by Japanese Government in Mozambique

• Pictures
• Data (cf. hand-out "2KR Monitoring Network")

2. Japanese Grant Aid for Increase of Food Production (2KR/ KR2)

2KR: One of ODA (Official Development Aid) / Agricultural aid program
Japanese government gives agricultural materials (Pesticides, Fertilizers and Agricultural machines) to a recipient government for free. The recipient government has to sell them to the private sectors and save the money in "counter part fund" which has to be used in the social development programs.

1. 1964-67: GATT Kennedy Round
2. 1968: Birth of Japanese Food Aid (KR)
3. 1973 (Oil shock): Pressure from Japanese Industrial Companies (Agrochemicals)
4. 1977: Birth of 2KR
5. Every year 200 - 300 billion yen are used for this project

3. Problematic Nature of 2KR & Other Donations

• not enough research, evaluation & follow-up;
• government to government project (responsibility falls only in the recipient);
• the end-users have to buy the products;
• inappropriate donated materials for the use;
• complicated system

=These matches with c) d) e) of page 1 on the reasons for accumulation of stocks.

FAO specifies the cause as follows:

1. "Aid agencies can also be guilty of failing to obtain such information before processing requests for pesticide donations." (FAO 2001, p.8)
2. "The Japanese "KR2" (...) has been criticized for providing excessive quantities of pesticides and pesticides that the recipients already have in store." (Ibid.)
3. "Donors (...) do not always take responsibility for ensuring that donated pesticides (...) are dealt with properly and efficiently in the recipient country. This continues to be a problem in Ethiopia, where pesticides provided by the Japanese KR2 sometimes arrive at stores in remote locations after or very close to their expiry date, and new supplies have been ordered. " (Ibid.)
4. "(Excessive donations) this has involved products manufactured in the home country of the aid agency. (... programmes lasting a number of years), the provision of pesticides is automatic until notice is given to stop. (...) Since developing countries may be concerned that refusing a gift could be considered undiplomatic, these donations were accepted(...)" (Ibid., p.9)
5. "Large sums of money are involved in pesticide supplies. As result, a variety of hidden interests may play a role in decisions (...) that result in procurement of quantities in excess of actual requirements (...) thereby increasing the risk of donations being supply- rather than demand-driven." (Ibid., p.10)

4. Systematic Problems of "International Cooperation"

                       DONORS

DONATING GOVERNMENT        RECIPIENT GOVERNMENT
   Ex. JAPAN                         Ex. MOZAMBIQUE

   CIVIL SOCIETY                     CIVIL SOCIETY

              INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

5. For the Resolution of the Problems

• Disposal
• Prevention (regulation; national policies; import controls; recycling systems)
• Reduce reliance on chemical pesticides: more sustainable production system & IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
  (ASP 2002, p.4/ FAO 2001 p.15)

&<Difficulties&>

*Lack of alternatives to chemical pesticides:
Chemical pesticides: considered most effective/ cheapest &<-&> pest resistance & resurgence, health & environmental problems, cost & externalities (evidence is often unavailable)
&<-&> IPM is slower to implement; Support needed but not enough
*"Direct & indirect subsidies on pesticides stimulate overuse and over-reliance on pesticides and frustrate the introduction of IPM or other sustainable production systems." ex. Contradiction of EC (FAO 2001, p.9 and p.15)
*Tied Aid System: requires the purchase of specific products.
&<-&> IPM or similar systems need investment in training and research

6. Our Suggestion

• Being responsible with what our government does;
• Changing the systematic problems of "International Cooperation":
• Increasing the communication and solidarity with the people of "South";
• Stimulating the shift of aid policy for sustainable development;
• WE CAN CHANGE IT!!!!!

7. Background Reading

• FAO (1995), Prevention of Accumulation of Obsolete Pesticide Stocks, Provisional Guidelines 2, Rome.
• FAO (2001), Baseline Study on the Problem of Obsolete Pesticide Stocks, FAO Pesticide Disposal Series 9, Rome.
• Africa Stockpiles Programme (http://www.africastockpiles.org) 2KR Monitoring Network (2002)